Wobk payment calculator



June 20, 1933. N. HlTcHjcocK. 1,914,855

WORK PAYMENT CALCULATOR Filed March'S, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 20, 1933. N. HITCHCOCK WORK PAYMENT CALCULATOR Filed March 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES NELSON HITCHCOGK, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE WORK PAYMENT CALCULATOR Application filed March 5, 1931. Serial No. 520,401.

This invention relates to calculators and particularly to calculators designed to be used in figuring wages or schedules of payment for peeling or preparing raw products for canning in commercialcannerles.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a calculator so constructed that upon turning the calculator to indicate the number of baskets, bushels, or

t 19 buckets of fruit or vegetables which have been treated by the laborer, a scale will also be shown indicating the number of baskets,

bushels or buckets which have been given to the laborer to treat and showing the percentage of his accomplishment, that is, the

grade of work done by the laborer.

A further object in this connection is to provide means for showing simultaneously with the number of bushels, baskets or buckets operated on, not only the percentage of his work, but also the Wages per bushel, basket or bucket which he should receive in accordance with his high or low average of work, it having been found that by paying different prices per bucket or container depending on the grade of work done by each peeler, the quality of the work is improved and at the same time the scale of wages is increased while a net saving is accomplished for the canner as the increase in wages represents only part of the increase in raw products saved. There is thus secured a higher scale of payment as a premium for better work and also a saving to the owner of the cannery at the same time.

aCCOIIl:

ularly to Figure 1, 10 designates an outer casing which may be of any suitable mate-" rial and which is provided with a back 11 if desired. Extending through the front of the casing 12 is a shaft 13 carrying uponit a handle 14 whereby the shaft may be rotated. This shaft is mounted in suitable bearings 15 carried by the front 12 of the casing;

Disposed immediately behind the front 12 and mounted upon this shaft for rotation therewith is a single disk 16 which has certain figures marked thereon as will be later explained and immediately behind this disk 16'but separated therefrom by a spaced 17 is a ratchet disk 18, the edge of which is serrated or toothed. Operating in conjunction with this ratchet disk 18 is a spring pawl 19 shown as mounted at its lower end upon'a block 20 and having a tooth 21which engages in the serrated edge of the disk law This pawl holds the disks 18 and 16 in any set relation andbrings certain numbers on the face of the disk in conjunction with certain openings in the front 12 as will be now stated.

With reference to Figure 1, it will be seen that the front-12 of the casing is formed with an inner radially elongated opening 22 and beyond this opening 22, there is a relatively large opening 23 and beyond the open- 8 ing 23 and offset with relation thereto are two openings 24 and 25.

The disk 16, as illustrated in Figure 3 is provided on its face with a plurality of circular series of numerals. There are six inner series of numerals designated generally 22a. Exteriorly of these six series of numerals, there is a single circular series of. numerals designated 23a and exteriorly there are three circular series of numerals designated 24a. The several columns of numerals 22a may be observed through the slot 22. The column of numerals 23 is observable through the opening 23, while the three columns of numerals 24 are observable through the openings 24 and 25.

Disposed upon the face 12 immediately above the upper edge of the opening 22 (though, of course, these figures might be disposed below the opening 22) are a series of percentage numerals, six in number ranging from 40% to 90%. On the lower margin of the opening 22 is disposed the word Unpeeled, assuming that the calculator is being used for calculating the wages of laborers who were peeling tomatoes, peaches or t-he.like. Above the opening 23 is disposed the word Peeled. Disposed above the opening 24 and in correspondence with the three columns of figures 24a are indications of the wages to be paid per bushel, bucket or container, as for instance, four cents, five cents and six cents. Below the opening 25 are disposed the'three figures seven cents, eight cents ,and nine cents.

It will be seen from inspection of Figure 1 and Figure .8 that the column of figures 23a runs from .one to seventyrfive and indicates the number of :bushels, baskets, or buckets of fruit vor tomatoes or other vegetables which have been peeled by a laborer. The innermost column of figures of the series 22 starts at the numeral 8 and terminates at the numeral 83. The next column of figures starts at thenumeral v5 and terminates at 94. The next column of figures starts at the numeral 4 and terminates at 107. The next succeeding column starts at the numeral 3 and terminates at the numeral 125. The-next succeeding column in turn starts at 2 and terminates at 150 and the final column of figures 22 starts at the numeral 5 and terminates at 187. Thesefigures are so arranged that when one of the figures in the column 23a is brought before the opening 23, the radially disposed figures in the columns 22a will be disclosed through the opening 22 and will be disclosed in conjunction with the percentage marks 00%, 80%, 50%, and 40% respectively. Thus, in the illustration shown, the numeral 12 is disclosed through the aperture 23 and there is simultaneously disclosed through. the aperture 22 the numerals 13, 15, 17, 20, 24 and 30. These numerals indicate the number of containers of fruit-initially given to the laborer to prepare. The numeral 12 indicates the number of containers which he has actually treated or peeled. If he has been given 13 containers of fruit to prepare and has prepared 12, his percentage will be ninety. If he has been given fifteen containers to prepare and has prepared twelv e, his percentage will be eighty per cent. It he has been initially given twenty-four containers of fruit to prepare and has prepared twelve, his percentage will be fifty per cent and so on.

Thus by bringing the disk 16 to a position where it shows the amount of work actually done, the disk will also show the percentage of the accomplished work to the work which has not been accomplished, and thus indicates the average ability of the as for-instance, four cents a bucket.

worker. The numerals contained in the columns designated 24a showing through the openings 2% and 25 indicate the amount of pay per container which the laborer should receive proportionate to his average. It will be seen that there are six scales of payment, four cents, five cents, six cents, seven cents, eight cents and nine cents, just as on the disk, there are indicated six percentages. If the percentage of the worker is low, he receives only the lowest payment, If his average is high, as for instance ninety per cent, he will receive the higest scale of payment or nine cents a bucket and the numerals disclosed through the opening 24: and in conjunction with these scales of payment indicate the total amount which a laborer is to receive for his work. Thus, for instance, if the laborers average is only 40% and he has peeled 12 buckets of fruit, then he receives four cents a bucket and the total wages paid to him is 48 cents. If on the other hand, his average is 80% and he I has peeled 12 buckets, he will then get eight close the amount of peeled fruit turned in, i

the percentage of ability of the laborer and also thepay of the laborer calculated in accordance with this percentage.

It has been found that by paying different prices per bucket or container depending upon the percentage of ability of the laborer, the quality of the work is greatly imprwed and the scale of wages is increased.

This is particularly necessary in canning establishments where fruit if not eeled or remaining untreated at the end 0 the day tends to spoil and a hand who is capable of peeling a large amount of fruit per day is worth more wages and should be paid a higher price for his labor than a laborer who is only capable of taking care of a relatively small percentage of the fruit. Thus while the expert workman receives a higher pay per bucket, than the unexpert workman does, there is a saving secured in a reduction in the amount of fruit unpeeled at the end of the day and which is liable to spoil or actually oes spoil or is otherwise rendered unfit for canning or other treatment. \Vhile this particular invention is peculiarly adapted to a particular field of labor, namely canning, it obviously might be applied to other forms of labor if it be desirable that the schedule of payment or wages varies with the quality of the work done. It is obvious that this calculator may take many different forms and I do not wish to be limited, therefore, to the form disclosed except as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

A calculator of the character described having an outer element formed with a plurality of openings and an inner element movable with relation to the outer element and having on its face a single column of figures denoting the number of units of work accomplished, said figures being observable through one of said openings, said movable element having also thereon a plurality of columns of figures denoting totals of work given out, a transverse row of such figures being observable through another of said openings, the figures denoting totals of work given out bearing a definite ratio to the figures denoting work accomplished, the margin of the opening disclosing the totals of work given out having percentages marked thereon and alining with the several columns of work given out and indicating the percentage of finished work to unfinished work, said movable element also having thereon a plurality of columns of figures denoting sums paid for piecework accomplished, transverse rows of figures in the last named columns being observable through other openings in the outer element, the transverse rows of figures so disclosed indicating the amount to be paid for the work accomplished in accordance with the ratio between work accomplished and work given out.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

NELSON HITCHCOCK. 

